Commentary: In a Tài Yáng and Yáng Míng combination disease, spontaneous diarrhea is coming from the exterior, and gé gēn tāng (Kudzu Decoction) is given to effuse sweat. In a Yáng Míng and Shào Yáng combination disease, spontaneous diarrhea is coming from the interior, and a chéng qì tāng (Order the Qi Decoction) formula is used to precipitate it. This is a Tài Yáng and Shào Yáng combination disease, and the spontaneous diarrhea is a result of the condition being half in the exterior and half in the interior. Here it would be inappropriate to promote sweat or precipitate, so huáng qín tāng (Scutellariae Decoction) is given to harmonize and resolve the pathogens laying half in the exterior and half in the interior. Retching indicates counterflow of stomach qì so bàn xià (Pinelliae Rhizoma preparatum) and shēng jiāng (Zingiberis Rhizoma recens) are added to dissipate counterflow qì.

*In the Běn Cǎo Jīng, sháo yào (Paeoniae Radix) is classified as bitter, and is considered to be mildly cold in the Míng Yī Bié Lù.

Commentary: In vacuity and non-repletion, (the) bitter (flavor) is used to harden, and sour is used to contract. huáng qín (Scutellariae Radix) and sháo yào (Paeoniae Radix) are bitter and sour, and are used to harden and constrain the qì of the stomach and intestines. In weakness and insufficiency, (the) sweet (flavor) is used to supplement. gān cǎo (Glycyrrhizae Radix) and dà zǎo (Jujubae Fructus) are both sweet and can supplement and secure stomach and intestinal weakness.

Simmer the four ingredients above in 1 dǒu of water (2,000ml) until reduced to 3 shēng (600ml). Remove the dregs and take 1 shēng (200ml) heated, twice during the day and one at night. If there is retching, add ½ shēng (100ml) of bàn xià (Pinelliae Rhizoma preparatum) and 3 liǎng (9g) of shēng jiāng (Zingiberis Rhizoma recens)*.

*The Sòng dynasty version does not include this modification but has a separate line for huáng qín jiā bàn xià shēng jiāng tāng (Scutellaria Decoction plus Pinellia and Fresh Ginger).